The Lazy RPG Podcast - D&D and RPG News and GM Prep from Sly Flourish The Ghoul Emperor – Dragon Empire Prep Session 48
9 snips
Dec 19, 2025 Mike dives into the thrilling chaos of his Dragon Empire campaign. He reveals a stunning twist involving a spymaster and a risky smuggling mission. A ghoul emissary confronts the party, leading to dark alliances with shadow dragons. Intriguing mission offers from Emperor Vilmos spice up the stakes as players choose their paths. With clever mapping and new NPCs, Mike keeps the adventure fresh. He also contemplates monster choices and treasures, layering secrets that add depth to the campaign. It's a rich tapestry of storytelling and strategy!
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Morza Reveal Shifts Player Stakes
- Mike Shea recounts the players discovering Parsis the Hidden is actually a powerful Morza spymaster.
- The reveal terrified the players and changed their strategy because Parsis can strike through proxies, not just in direct combat.
Near-Death In The Shadow Roads
- The party escorted the Morza's son into the Shadow Roads and were ambushed by two behir who nearly killed him.
- Mike withheld instant-death rules to avoid an unfair early campaign derailment and let players rescue the son.
Planar Ties Raise Ghoul Stakes
- The Twilight Imperium ghouls have planar ties that make them stronger in the Shadow Realm than in the mortal world.
- Mike Shea uses those ties to create stakes and options when the ghoul emissary Althaz Ebonblade offers the party a bargain.